Plate-type heat-exchangers



2,981,520 ,PLATE-TYPE HEAT-EXCHANGERS Robert A. Chadburn, York, Pa.,assignor to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Filed Nov. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 851,862

Claims. (Cl. 257-256) This invention relates to plate-typeheatexchangers and more particularly to such a heat-exchanger whereinUnited States Patent 0 sible that the refrigerant piping be formedintegrally with t the cover plates instead of separate therefrom; thepiping being embossed in the plates. Such plates are commonly used onrefrigerated vehicles and also in refrigerated storage boxes.

The refrigerated plates presently in use are, in many cases, adequatefor the purpose and oftentimes are of simple and rugged construction.However, they suffer from the disadvantage that they cannot be readilyaltered to provide for variations in the refrigerant flow path. Wheresuch variations are desired, the cost of the standard type plate becomesnearly prohibitive because of the additional tooling that is required.

Applicant has devised a plate which is relatively simple in constructionand nature, and which may be stocked in the form of blanks of randomlength. By a simple process, the plate may be designed to have anynumber or sequence of refrigerant flow passages, the flow passages mayvary in size throughout the length of the plate, and any number ofpossible combinations to suit the particular need are readily available.

It is among the objects of the invention, therefore, to provideaplate-type heat-exchanger, which may be stocked in the form of blanksof random length and converted to its intended use in an expeditious andsimple fashion. Yet another object is to provide aheat-exchanger of thetype just above-mentioned, wherein the number and sequence ofrefrigerant flow passages may be varied at will.

A further object of the invention is to provide a platetypeheat-exchanger, which may be stocked in the form of blanks having aplurality of internal passages therein. By providing access openings tothe internal passages through a top wall of the blank, the blank may beconverted into heat-exchangers The flow paths of refrigerant through theplates may be varied merely by having the access openings encompass thenumber of passages through which it is desired the refrigerant flow.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements anddevices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out theabove-stated objects and such other objects as will appear from thefollowing description of preferred embodiments of the inventiondescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a plate-type heat-exchanger according to theinvention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation in cross section, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a side view in cross section, taken on the line 3-'-3 of Fig.1;

Patented Apr. 25, 1961 Fig. 4 is a front view of an end closure andheader member for the heat-exchanger as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a heat-exchanger having analternative arrangement of flow paths;

Fig. 7 is a front view of an end closure and header member for the Fig.6 embodiment;

Fig.- 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a heatexchanger having yetanother arrangement of flow paths; and

Fig. 9 is a front viewof an end closure and header member for the Fig. 8embodiment.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, exceptwhere otherwise noted. I

A plate-type heat-exchanger 10 comprises an extruded panel member 11,having a plurality of passageways 12 formed therein. It will be apparentthat panel member 11 may be cast rather than extruded, or formed in anyother manner suitable to the purpose. Panel member 11 has a top wall 13and a bottom wall 14, and further in cludes dividing walls 15 betweenadjacent passageways 12.

An inlet aperture 16 and an outlet aperture'17 are provided in top wall13. In addition, a piurality of crossover apertures 18 are provided intop wall 13 on either end of panel member 11, the cross-over apertureshaving lands 19 therebetween. It will be seen that the various apertures13 at the ends of panel member 11 are linearly olfset with respect toone another. The purpose for this will readily become apparenthereinafter.

A combined enclosure plate and header member 20 is provided to close theterminal ends of passageways 12 at either end of panel member 11. Member26 is formed with a U-shaped portion 21, which acts as a header for flowof fluid through passageways 12 and cross-over. apertures 18. Member 20isprovided with a plurality of ribs 22, which seat on lands 1? and aidin suitably defining various fiow passages. It will be apparent as thedescription progresses that, as the apertures 18 change in order todefine different flow passages, spacing of ribs 22 will correspondinglychange. Member 20 is fitted to panel 11 and suitably welded thereto asat 23 and 24.

Turning now to Fig. 1, it will beapparent that re frigerant enters apanel member 11 by way of inlet aperture 16 and flows through thecorresponding passageway 12 in one direction, crosses over to the nextpassageway by way of cross-over aperture 18 and reverses its flow tofiowthrough this next passageway. This reversing flow continues until atlast the fluid exists panel member 11 byway of outlet aperture 17. Theflow described is that of the simplest nature and an inspection of Figs.6, 7, 8 and 9 show various possible arrangements of flow passagewayspossible merely by varying the size of the cross-over apertures 18 andthe location of ribs 22. It will be apparent from an inspection of Figs.6-9 that an infinite variety of combinations is possible.

Turning now to Fig. 6, there is shown a construction in which the sizeof the flow passageway is double that shown in Fig. 1. Parts similar tothe Fig. 1 construction have been given similar numerals, preceded bythe numeral 1. An inspection of Fig. 6 reveals that the fluid at alltimes flows concurrently through two passageways 112, cross-overapertures 118 being correspondingly twice as large as apertures 18. Thespacing of ribs 122 on member 120 has been correspondingly increased tocorrespond with apertures 118. It will be apparent from an inspection ofFig. 6 that the size of the flow passageways may be readily varied, aswas set out above.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a construction wherein fluid initially flowsthrough by one passageway, which later in the flow is broadened to twopassageways, and still later, three passageways, etc. In some cases ofrefrigerant flow, it will be apparent that, as the refrigerant takes upheat from whatever substance it is desired to cool, it is evaporated.Since the gastakes much more space than the liquid in order to maintainthe constant flow rate, it would be necessary to continuously enlargethe flow passageway. This can very easily be taken care of in thisconstruction again merely by varying the size and spacing of cross-overapertures 218 and 222 as shown. Parts similar to Fig. 1 constructionhave been given similar numerals preceded by the numeral 2.

I wish it to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to thespecific constructions and arrangements shown and described, except onlyinsofar as the claims may be so limited, as it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that changes may be madewithout departing from theprinciples of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A plate-type heat-exchanger comprising a panel member having top andbottom walls and including a plurality of transverse passagewaystherethrough, said top wall having a plurality of apertures formedtherethrough on either end thereof whereby fluid may enter and leavesaid passageway by way of said apertures, certain of said apertures onone end being linearly oflset with respect to certain of said apertureson the other end whereby fluid travelling through one of saidpassageways may cross over to the next said passageway by way of saidapertures for counter flow travel, and a pair of header member meansenclosing said apertures and defining, in conjunction with saidapertures, flow paths for fluid through said passageways.

'2. A plate-type heat-exchanger comprising a panel member having top andbottom walls and including a plurality of transverse passagewaystherethrough, means for sealing said passageways at either end of saidpanel, said top wall having a plurality of apertures formed therethroughon either end thereof whereby fluid may enter and leave said passagewaysby Way of said apertures, said apertures on one end being linearlyoffset with respect to the apertures on the other end whereby fluidtravelling through one of said passageways may cross over to the nextsaid passageway by way of said apertures for counter flow travel, a pairof header members including a plurality of ribs enclosing said aperturesand defining, in conjunction with said apertures, flow paths for fluidthrough said passageways, and means providing an inlet to saidpassageways and an outlet therefrom.

3.;A plate-type heat-exchanger comprising a panel member having top andbottom walls and including a plurality of transverse passagewaystherethrough, means for sealing said passageways at either end of saidpanel,

said top wall having an inlet and outlet aperture and a plurality ofcross-over apertures formed therethrough on either end thereof wherebyfluid may enter and leave said passageways by way of said apertures,said cross-over apertures on one end being linearly oflset with respectto the cross over apertures on the other end and spanning at least twopassageways whereby fluid travelling through one of said passageways maycross over to the next said passageway by way of said apertures forcounter flow travel therethrough, and a. pair of header member meansenclosing said apertures and defining, in conjunction with saidapertures, flow paths for fluid through said passageways.

4. A plate-type heat-exchanger comprising a panel member having top andbottom walls and including a plurality of transverse passagewaystherethrough, means for sealing said passageways at either end of saidpanel, said top wall having an inlet and outlet aperture and a pluralityof cross-over apertures formed therethrough on either end thereofwhereby fluid may enter and leave said passageways by way of saidapertures, said crossover apertures spanning at least two passagewayswhereby fluid travelling through one of said passageways may cross overto the next said passageway by way of said apertures for counter flowtravel, and a pair of header members including a plurality of ribsenclosing said apertures and defining, in conjunction with saidapertures, flow paths for fluid through said passageways.

5. A plate-type heat-exchanger comprising a panel member having top andbottom walls and including a plurality of transverse passagewaystherethrough, said top wall having an inlet and outlet aperture and aplurality of cross-over apertures formed therethrough on either endthereof whereby fluid may enter and leave said passageways by way ofsaid apertures, said cross-over apertures on one end being linearlyoffset with respect to the cross over apertures on the other end andspanning at least two passageways whereby fluid travelling through oneof said passageways'may cross over to the next said passageway by way ofsaid apertures for counter flow travel therethrough, and a pair of endclosure and header members sealing said passageways at either end ofsaid panel and including a plurality of ribs enclosing said aperturesand defining, in conjunction with said apertures, flow paths for fluidthrough said passageways.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,053,540 Stoneman Sept. 8, 1936

